January 2 – Fresh off winning their first MLS Cup, Inter Miami have announced a three-game pre-season tour through Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador as the MLS club attempts to capitalize on the ‘Messi Effect’ and push both brands into the global football conversation.
First stop will be Peru and Alianza Lima on January 24, followed by Atlético Nacional in Medellín, Colombia, on January 31, and then Barcelona SC in the port city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, on February 7.
Messi’s recent personal tour of India drew massive attention, huge crowds, and scenes that spilled into chaos. So now the question becomes, is Miami’s South American victory/pre-season tour a smart way to sell MLS abroad, or is this another kind of spectacle that risks getting swallowed by local passion?
Playing against historic clubs in hostile environments could sharpen Miami’s edge and earn real respect, or will Miami treat this as a photo op and more worship of the Messi cult rather than a serious football match?
In the end, whether this tour moves the needle for MLS branding depends on whether Messi and Co. perform and how seriously these games are taken on both sides. That’s the real story to watch.
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